Coupling for gas appliance



April 25, 1961 2,981,439 I R. l. HUFFMAN COUPLING FOR GAS APPLIANCE Filed April 2, 1957 INVENTOR" ATTORNEYS.

United StatesPatent' 2,981,439 COUPLING FOR GAS APPLIANCE Russell I. Huffman, Dover, Ohio, assignor to Knapp- Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 650,146

1 Claim. Cl. 220-35 This invention relates to a coupling for a gas appliance and'more particularly to a coupling for connection to a source of fuel contained in a crown-type can.

There has been, recently, an increased popularity of liquid petroleum gas appliances, such as stoves, torches and lanterns wherein the source of fuel is contained in a lightweight disposable container, such as a crown-type can. One of the features of such appliances is that after the fuel of one container has been exhausted, the container may be discarded and a fresh container of fuel may be attached to the appliance.

The instant invention is directed to new and improved means for detachably coupling the liquid petroleum gas appliance to the disposable fuel container.

One of the requirements of such a coupling is that it be very simple to operate. Another requirement of such a coupling is that it be effective for insuring a non-leak coupling between the appliance and the fuel container. Still another requirement of such a coupling is that it be arranged for cooperation with the existing features of crown-type cans, within which containers fuel has been effectively packaged.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide a coupling which meets the aforenoted requirements and which provides an arrangement of parts which effects a positive gripping cooperation with existing parts of a crown-type can.

One feature of this invention is that it takes advantage of the existing construction features of crown-type cans. In existing crown-type cans, the crown is so arranged relative to the top of the can that an annular portion of said crown overhangs a portion of the top of the can and thereby cooperates to define an outwardly opening annular groove, or recess, between said overhanging portion of the crown and the top of the can. The instant invention provides a coupling which cooperates with these existing construction features by providing portions thereof which may enter said outwardly opening annular groove defined beneath the crown of the can, and which portions engage and cooperate with the annular crown to resist separatio'n of the coupling from the crown can.

Heretofore, couplings of the general type, which take advantage of the aforenoted existing construction features of crown-type cans, have been proposed, but all such previous couplings utilized spring-biased jaw mem bers for effecting connection to the outwardly opening annular groove defined beneath the crown of the can. The instant invention differs from the previous couplings inthat the use of spring biased jaw members is avoided, and a very simple arrangement of pivotable, latching parts as hereinafter described is all that is necessary to provide an efiective, reliable and inexpensive coupling.

Thus, another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved coupling for a gas appliance for use with a crown-type can, which coupling is particularly adapted to take advantage of existing construction features of crown-type cans to effect a simple means of connection between the coupling and the crown can.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cou-- pling for connection with a crown-type can which is characterized by its simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction and by its efiectiveness of operation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as .the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention Will be pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation view of a valve body of a liquid petroleum gas appliance which is equipped with the coupling of this invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section view taken on line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section view showing the structure of Figure 1 connected to a crowntype can;

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views taken respectively on lines 55 and 6-6 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the novel coupling of this disclosure.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown, in Figure 4, a crown-type can, or container, 10 adapted for containing liquid-petroleum-gas fuel for use with a'gas burning appliance. The crown-can includes an upright cylindricalsurface 12, a frusto-conical top portion 14, an annular crown or bead 16 at the upper end of top portion 14, and a cup-shaped, depressed central top portion 18. The central top portion 18 carries a normally sealed, but pierceable rubber seal 20 centrally thereof.

Depending from said rubber seal 20 centrally thereof is a tubular fuel conduit 22. The connection of rubber seal 20 to top portion 18 of the can is generally shown, as the details of such connection form no portion of this invention. However, it is to be noted that the rubber seal 20 extends upwardly above the top portion 18, and this feature is taken advantage of in this invention, as will be hereinafter described.

The annular crown 16 on the can is so constructed and arranged that a portion thereof defines an outwardlyextending, annular, overhanging-portion which overlies a portion of the can top 14 so as to define an annular groove, or recess, 24 between said overhanging-annular portion and the top 14 of the can. This annular groove, or annular recess 24 has a minimum diameter which is less than-the maximum diameter of the crown, that is, the maximum diameter of the annular, outwardly-extending, overhanging-portion of the crown 16. This feature of the overhanging-portion of the annular crown 16 cooperating with the top 14 of the can 10 to define an annular groove 24 therebetween is not novel, although the existence of that feature is taken advantage of in this invention in a manner as will be hereinafter described.

Now, the appliance to which the container of fuel is to be attached may be any liquid-petroleum-gas burning appliance such as a stove, lantern or torch. Regardless of the nature of the appliance, fuel conduit means are provided between the appliance and the fuel containing can 10. Said fuel conduit means includes a valve body, generally indicated at 26, which carries a fuel-bleeding, apertured, hollow needle 28 which is adapted to pierce the rubber seal 20 and to enter into the bore of the fuel conduit 22, so as to establish a passageway for the fuel from tube 22, through the apertured hollow needle 28, to the gas burning appliance.

As shownin the drawings, the valve body 26 has a valve stem 30 extending therefrom, which stem carries a manual valve control knob 32 thereon. The valve bodyis provided with a threaded boss 34 for connection to the fuel conduit means for the particular appliance to which the valve body is to be connected. The valve body 26 also has a downwardly extending'tubular portion 36 which is adaptedtoengage the rubber seal 20 along the peripheral region 38 so as'to effect a seal between the rubber seal 20 and the valve body 26. Thus far what has been described is old in the prior art.

The novel coupling means between the valve body 26 and the fuel can will now be described. Said coupling comprises an annular frame member, generally indicated at 4%, which is appropriately connected to the valve body 26. The frame member 40 includes an annular plate portion 42, the inner peripheral edge of which is turned upwardly to form a sleeve, or collar, 44. The outer peripheral edge of the plate 42 is turned downwardly to define a peripheral flange 46. There is a segmented fixed flange means on the frame member 40 which extends below and inwardly of the lower terminus of the downwardly extending peripheral flange 46, and said segmented, fixed flange means define a plurality of spaced, inwardly extending flanges 48 and 50. The frame member 40, including the plate 42 and the flanges 48 and 50 spaced therefrom, may be considered as defining a laterally-opening grooved rim means which provides for lateral movement of said frame member 4%) onto the annular bead 16 of a fuel can 10. When the frame member is properly arranged and positioned on a fuel can 10, as shown in Figure 4, then the flanges 48 and 50 enter into and are disposed within the outwardly opening annular groove 24 defined between the bead 16 and the frustoconical top portion 14 of the fuel can.

The diameter of the peripheral flange 46 is selected to be of just slightly greater diameter than the external diameter of annular bead 116 so that said peripheral flange 46 may fit onto a fuel can as shown in Figure 4 and so that the flange 46 cooperates with the bead 16 to align the frame member 40 and the fuel can. The terminus of peripheral flange 46 is disposed between the inwardly extending fixed flange means, 48 and 50, and the plate portion 42 of frame member 40.

The frame member 40 also carries thereon a latch member generally indicated at 52. The latch member includes a flat plate portion 54 which, when in operative position, lies closely adjacent plate portion 42 of the frame member 40. The latch member 52 is pivoted on the frame member 40 and is arranged so that the plate portion 54, and the flange means 48 and 50, are disposed on opposite sides of the plate portion 42 of the frame member. The means for pivotally mounting the latch member 52 on the frame member 40 includes a headed rivet 56. The rivet 56 is formed to provide a reduced shoulder portion 58 which serves as a journal for the latch member 52 and which also serves as a spacer, to prevent clamping of the plate portion 54 of the latch member 52 between the head of the rivet and the frame member 40. The rivet is countersunk, as indicated at 60, in the under side of the plate portion 42 of the frame member 40.

The latch member 52 is shaped to define a downwardly and inwardly extending flange 62, and an upwardly extending manual control flange 64. The plate portion 54 of latch member 52 is in the shape of a segment of an annulus. The flange 62 may be considered as movable flange means, relative to the flanges 48 and 50 which are fixedly carried on frame 40.

When the latch member 52 is swung to its operative position, as shown in full lines in Figures 1-4, then the movable flange means 62 is disposed substantially coplanar with the fixed flange means on the frame member 40, and the three flanges 62, 48, and 50 are circularly disposed so as to complete a grooved circular rim means which secures the coupling of this invention to the annular bead 160i the crown-type container 10.

4 When in operative position, the three flanges 48, 50, and 62 extend into the outwardly opening annular groove 24 and engage the under side of the annular head 16, thereby preventing removal or withdrawal of the coupling from the container.

The latch member 52 maybe swung to a non-operative position wherein the flange 62 clears the bead 16 of the crown-type container, thereby permitting the removal of the coupling from the container. The manual control flange '64 provides means for selectively moving the latch means 52 to operative and inoperative positions.

A lock is provided for maintaining the latch member 52 in its operative position. This lock consists simply of a recess 66 formed in the latch member 52, and a detent 68 formed in the plate portion 42 of the frame member 40. When in operative position, the detent -68 enters the recess 66, as seen in Figure 5, to provide for retention of the latch member in its operative position. The flange 64 provides means for overcoming the locking force developed between the detent 68 and the recess 66.

The inner arcuate edge 70 of plate portion 54 of the latch member 52 is arranged to engage a portion of the upstanding sleeve 44 of the frame member '40, to provide stop means for limiting movement of the latch member in one direction, when the latch member is swung toward the operative position. Similarly, another portion 72 of the latch member is adapted to engage the upstanding sleeve 44 on the frame member to limit movement of the latch member 52 in the opposite direction. Such engagement of the latch member with the upstanding collar 44 is seen in the dot-dash lines of Figure 2.

It will be observed, particularly in Figures 2 and 3, that the headed rivet 56 is located substantially midway between the fixed flanges 48 and 50, and that the movable flange 62 is located substantially diametrically opposite said rivet 56, so that when said flanges 48, 50 and 62 are in operative position, they are arcuately spaced substantially equally.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is provided a very simple and efficient coupling which is simple to operate and inexpensive to make.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A valve attachment to a crown-type container having an annular rim, said rim defining an outwardly opening annular groove, which attachment comprises a valve having a tubular portion adapted for insertion within a rim of the type defined, and a coupling in engagement with said valve tubular portion; said coupling comprising a frame and a latch mounted on top of said frame; said frame comprising an annular plate, an integral collar extending upwardly from the inner periphery of the plate, integral first flange means extending downwardly around the outer periphery of the plate, and integral second flange means extending downwardly from a portion of said outer periphery; said valve tubular portion being housed in said collar; said first flange means being adapted for centering said valve attachment on a rim of the type defined; said second flange means being adapted for hooking into the groove defined by a rim of the type defined, and for lateral movement of said frame into and out of said hooking position; said latch being pivotally mounted on said plate and including downwardly extending integral third flange means, and a manually engageable control flange; said latch being adapted for swinging it on said plate to a position wherein said third flange means also 5 6 hooks into the groove defined by a rim of the type defined, 1,128,948 Chellis Feb. 16, 19 to lock said valve attachment on the rim. 1,227,563 Allen May 29, 1917 1,324,206 Nickell Dec. 9, 1919 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,779,517 Beall I an. 29, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,804,994 Nebinger Sept. 3, 1957 558,364 Doolittle Apr. 14, 1896 937,364 Dolder Oct. 19, 1909 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,007,326 Boyd Oct. 3 1, 1911 1751 Germany 1893 

